Vol.2 No.11 -4 : Physiological perturbations in gills and liver of Siganus canaliculatus as potential biomarkers of hydrocarbons pollution in Arabian Gulf of Saudi Arabia.

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By : Ahmed Mokhtar Abu El-Saad

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the state of health of gills and liver tissues of Rabbitfish, Siganus canaliculatus, inhabiting three different coastal localities in the Saudi coast of the Arabian Gulf, namely Al-Dammam, Dareen and Maniefa, with varying degrees of pollution affected by anthropogenic inputs including fractionated hydrocarbons. Al-Dammam coast was the less impacted site, and thus considered as a reference location. High concentrations of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons were detected in sediments and tissues at sites with anthropogenic activities (Dareen and Maniefa). Also, biochemical indicators were used to assess the impact of different levels of environmental pollution in gills and liver of the fish. The biomarkers: glycogen, total lipid, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, acetylcholinesterase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and reduced glutathione were found to be significantly lower in tissues of Rabbitfish caught from polluted locations compared to the reference values. However, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, catalase, glutathione-s-transferase and lipid peroxidation displayed significantly higher levels in the Rabbitfish caught from polluted locations. Overall, our results highlight the importance of estimating a set of related biomarkers to gain a preferable comprehend of protective mechanisms activated under a given environmental situation. It can be concluded that marine contamination can affect the antioxidant defense status of the gills and liver of studied fish. This has led to the suggestion that the marine Rabbitfish S. canaliculatus could be considered as a good bioindicator of environmental contamination by aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons.

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Vol.2 No.11 -3 : Food composition and feeding ecology of the Arabian Red Fox Vulpes vulpes arabica Thomas 1902 in Sakaka northern Saudi Arabia.

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By : Walid Fathy , Mohammad Basuony3 and Mohammad Ibrahim

Abstract

The food composition and feeding ecology of the Arabian Red Fox Vulpes vulpes arabica inhabiting Sakaka city in the northern part of Saudi Arabia was studied using stomach contents analysis. The analysis of 32 stomach contents during February 2015 to May 2016 showed a great diverse of food like mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, scorpions, cooked rice, plants and carrion. Diet composition showed seasonal variations that associated with changes in the availability of different food items. The results clearly showed that the Arabian Red Fox is an opportunistic omnivore, capable of depending on a great types of dietary compositions. This is the first study for the food composition and feeding ecology for the Arabian Red Fox in Sakaka city and Al Jouf governorate in Saudi Arabia.

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Vol.2 No.11 -2 : Efficacy of saffron extract and fenugreek seeds supplementation on liver of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

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By : Doaa A. Ali , Hanaa Serag , Ahmed Abdeen and Radwa Refaat

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the possible hypoglycemic and hepatoprotective effects of saffron extract (100mg/kg b.wt) and fenugreek supplementation (1.4 g/day/kg b.wt) in STZ- induced diabetic rats at biochemical, histological, histochemical and ultrastructural levels. The results indicated that a single dose of STZ (50 mg /kg b wt, i.p) caused a significant increase in serum and liver total lipids, total cholesterol and triglyceride as well as serum low density and a very low density lipoprotein, accompanied by an increase in serum glucose level and oxidative stress marker, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide level as well as serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities. The results also reported a significant decrease in the high density lipoprotein, serum and liver total protein, serum albumin and globulin contents and A/G ratio, as well as a significant decrease in serum insulin level and the liver enzyme activities and the hepatic glutathione content. Histologically, STZ treated group showed degenerative changes in the pancreas and alteration in the structural integrity of the hepatocytes and their intracellular organelles. Histochemically, liver sections of STZ treated animals displayed marked decrease in the glycogen and total protein contents. On the other hand, the intake of saffron or fenugreek minimize the disturbance observed in the most tested parameters resulted from STZ administration and improve the liver structure and functions. Finally, it can be concluded that the intake of natural product such as saffron or fenugreek may be effective in reducing the diabetic liver injury induced by streptozotocin and the fenugreek supplementation showed more amelioration than saffron extract.

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Vol.2 No.11 -1 : Screening for viral infection and anemia among pregnant women with bad pregnancy outcome in Egyptian population.

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By : Amer, A., Mona, K. Farag, Khaled, R. Gaber1, AlKhazindar, M and ElSayed, T

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health concern worldwide and in Egypt. Viral hepatitis during pregnancy is closely related to high risks of maternal complications Human Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is considered the most common cause of congenital malformation that results from viral intrauterine infection in developed countries. Anemia is one of the common complications that is associated with increased risk of bad pregnancy outcome including low birth weight and preterm birth. The aim of this study was to screen for HCV, CMV and anemia among pregnant women in Egyptian population. This prospective study was conducted at the Prenatal Diagnosis clinic in the National Research Centre between April 2013 and August 2015 and a total of 200 pregnant women during their second trimester of pregnancy were enrolled and divided into case group (150/200) with current or history of bad pregnancy outcome and control group (50/200) with no previous history of bad pregnancy outcome. All blood samples were tested for complete blood picture and liver enzyme tests and were screened by ELISA for Anti-HCV and CMV-IgG and IgM. After all investigations including medical and family history for all pregnant women included in the study, all data was statistically analyzed using spss version 19. Anemia was diagnosed in pregnant women with hemoglobin level below 11 g/dl and it was detected in 24 % (48/200) of the total pregnant females included in the study. Five cases tested positive for Anti-HCV antibody among all cases enrolled in the study and was found in the cases group 3.33% (5/150) while all pregnant women in the control group showed negative results. Screening for CMV showed 100 % CMV-IgG while we found 0 % CMV-IgM. Screening for anemia and serological screening for CMV and HCV antibodies should be routine tests especially among pregnant women.

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